Canucks try to bounce back against visiting Wild

Apr 7, 2011 - 3:15 PM

(Sports Network) - Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault wasn't too concerned
about his team getting swept in a home-and-home set by the NHL's worst team. A
rare home setback to Minnesota could raise some eyebrows though.

The Canucks aim to get on track this evening with a seventh straight home
victory over the Wild at Rogers Arena.

Vancouver had won 12 of its previous 13 games before hosting Edmonton last
Saturday. The Canucks were dealt a 4-1 loss by the basement-dwelling Oilers,
then suffered a 2-0 setback at Edmonton on Tuesday. It marked the first time
that the Canucks had suffered back-to-back losses since an 0-1-3 skid from
Jan. 16-22.

Still, Vigneault isn't worried about his Canucks, which captured its first
ever Presidents' Trophy this season by setting single-season club records with
52 wins and 113 points.

"I think you have to give a lot of credit to Edmonton cause they're playing
hard and tight out there," said Vigneault. "We'll be fine when the playoffs
come around."

Roberto Luongo made 20 saves for Vancouver, which had a franchise-record nine-
game road win streak end. The club is 26-9-5 at home this season.

The Canucks, who end their regular season on Saturday at Calgary, had forward
Mikael Samuelsson back in the lineup for the first time in seven games due to
a leg injury.

Minnesota hasn't been as lucky with its injuries as of late. A number of Wild
regulars are lost for the season, including forward Martin Havlat. He missed
Sunday's 4-2 setback in Detroit with an upper-body injury suffered the
previous game and isn't expected to play in any of Minnesota's final three
games.

Marek Zidlicky is also likely out tonight due to a hamstring issue, while
John Madden (lower body), Cal Clutterbuck (upper body) and Jose Theodore (leg)
are all questionable.

Brad Staubitz had a goal in Sunday's loss and set up Carson McMillan's goal,
which came in his first NHL game. Theodore ended with 30 saves for the Wild,
who have dropped two straight and 10 of their last 12.

"I thought we competed and played hard today," said Minnesota head coach Todd
Richards. "But against a good team like Detroit you need more than that to
win."

Minnesota lost the opener of a three-game swing and plays in Edmonton on
Friday before hosting Dallas on Sunday.

In addition to its lengthy losing streak at Rogers Arena, the Wild have lost
nine of their past 13 overall against the Canucks.